The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-08-12


ne WOULDN'T ANSWER.
Nov RoSsu was TAUGHT 20 Always Couns
the glrss Time He wss Called
Robin was the dearest. sweetest, best
little iaddie that ever lived. At least.
grandpa and grandma. Aunt Nell
Sister Grace and Cousin Lou said so
on an average Of dozen times every
dav. and mamma was not inclined to
dispute them
Occasionally. however. there were
times when the aforesaid Robin was
not quite so dear and sweet and good
a. usual.
There was great deal to be done ut
Robins house. and even he was cx-
pected to help some To BE- sure.
there was not much that he could do.
but he could take steps" As mamma
called II. and run errands.
You would naturally think that he
wor,d b glad to do as much - that
for his dear. loving. hard-worked
mother wouldn't you? But ! am sorry
to say that. though Robin would trct
from morning till night about his play
or on his own errands. he had very
great aversion to taking steps for any
one else.
1t made his mother feel very badly
indeed.
II can not bear to think that my
little Robin is selfish. she said TO
papa. but 1t certainly looks like IL.
He isn't really willing to do any thing
for any body but himself"
I'VE shall have to teach him . les
son in some way" said papa
The next morning Robin was out in
the wood-shed with Eddie Burt play
ing Daniel in the lions den" An
empty coal bin was the den. and Bruno
was the lion.
Mamma was in the kitchen. baking.
and through the open door every now
and then came fragrant whiffs that
would have bcguiIed Robin in. only
for the fear OF being drafted into serv-
ice
.-Oh. dearr' exclaimed mamma. As
she was stirring her spice cake robin
was extremely fond Of spice cake. BY
the way) --'oh. dear' my raisins
aren't picked over. and l haven't a
minute to spare
Call Robin 10 do IT," said papa,
who hsppencd 10 be in the kitchen
inst then. He can do il well enough.
and a. he will consume A. much Of
the cake rs any one. he had better
lend hand toward the making"
Robin. who heard every word OF the
conversation. looked ut Eddie in dis
may.
You cut and run somewhere quick
and then you won't hear her i she
does call. and I'll run home few
Minutes whispered Eddie from the
den.
Half = minute later Eddie might
have been seen slipping over the
fence, and Robin whisked up the
Mairs into the little shed chamber.
..RolSnr' called mamma, coming t.
the kitcs,>n door.
But no Robin answered.
..Rob-in!' she called. again and
again.
There was no response.
Then papa came out
..Robertr' he said. with . very de-
cided ring TO his voice.
But there VS. no answer to this call.
either. - Robin was at that moment
crouchcd upon the foor. with both
fingers in his ears and an old blanket
pulled tightly over his head
Papa's face was very grave. HI
knew perfectly well that Robin had
been there but moment ago. and h
had Z shrcwd suspicion as 10 the cause
Of his sudden disappearance
He could not have gotten out Of thu
door without being seen; therefore. h
must DO up stairs
Papa went TO the foot Of the stairs
'.R,binr' he called. very distinctly
and cleariy-so clearly that thai
young gentleman was almost afraid
that he heard him. in spite Of his pre-
cautions.
However. - he was not In tho habi
Of answering the FIRST time. ever
under ordinary circumstances. he die
not think Il best 70 respond now. under
these rather extraordinary ones.
II guess I'll have to answer mex
time. though" he thought, III ! thinl
] hear"
But papa did not call again; instead
he went quickly up the stairs. and turn
ing the key. which was on the outside,
went back again.
Robins head came out from undel
his blanket aud his fingers from on
his ears in q twinkling.
There was no mistaking tho fact--hs
was 3 prisoner.